Dust Magic

As we walk across the hallway heading toward the front entrance where a carriage should be waiting for us, Rhys suddenly appears on my side, causing me to jump in fright. He chuckles, finding that amusing, and I whisper, "why are you here?" while eyeing Blossom and Faye.

They've been in a deep conversation since we left the dining area after our breakfast. Faye can't leave the fact that we're visiting the town. She argues that it's unsafe for Blossom and me. 

I understand her concern, and by now, I realized that maybe this is a bad idea. Though, how would I decline Blossom's offer by this last minute? She has already made her mind and told us not to worry. 

If only I could have contained my excitement about getting my bow made and seeing Frida again, then Faye wouldn't be exasperated. That moment I accidentally set aside the fact that we got attacked just last night, and the Beorene creatures may still be around even with the barriers up; they might still be waiting for the right time. 

"What did you do to make them argue like that? And I came to give you this," Rhys holds up two folded cloaks.

"We're going to the Town of Tinkers, and Faye is concerned," I explain to him, and he frowns. 

"Whose idea was this?"

I point at Blossom, and Rhys shuts his mouth in an instant. He remains quiet as we near the entrance.

As expected, there waits a wagon that is much simpler than the one I remember. The wagon is plain, dull in color with no special features. It doesn't capture people's attention, and that is great. We must be going to town in secrecy.

"This results in nothing but danger," I hear Faye mutter when we come to a halt. Blossom smiles as soon as she sees that Rhys had brought the cloak she asked for and thank him. She receives it, handing one to me. 

"Are you sure you don't need me to come?" Rhys asks worriedly, although he doesn't meet her eyes.

"The both of you should stop worrying," Blossom laughs, "I wouldn't go to Town without any good reason."

Blossom puts her cloak on, and I do the same. Then out of nowhere, she lifts a tiny clear bottle with golden dust. She pops the lid open, pouring some on her palm before sprinkling it on my head.

I watch her do it with wide eyes, unable to control the need to sneeze from the amount she sprinkled. Then I pop the question, "what does that do?"

"More importantly, how did you manage to get your hands on that? It's from Beorene," with folded arms, Faye asked.

Blossom sprinkles some dust on herself before keeping it away. She smiles at us and says, "I kept it since that day I went to Beorene."

"The dust does magic. It conceals your true identity in the eyes of those who don't know you wholeheartedly. It'll last for a long period but not long enough, so we should get going."

She pushes me slightly toward the carriage, where Rhys is already holding the door open for us. I give him a look before going in, finding that the wagon is compressed, fitting only two people. 

Blossom goes in after me. She gives Faye and Rhys a warm smile, "Faye, I live you in charge."

Both of them bows their heads to show respect. Faye lifts her head seconds after to spare me a glance, giving me the look of 'take care' before Rhys shuts the door.

The wagon shakes as it starts moving right away. 

It's bumpier than the one that Rhys and I rode that night. If the windows of these wagons could not be open, you'd suffocate inside. However, that's not what makes me uncomfortable. 

Ever since we left the castle, Blossom has been so quiet. I thought that she'd start a conversation as soon as we were on the move. But she only stares at the window on her right.

So I did the same, staring out at the scenery. I remember the familiar road of that night. Since it's in the day, I got to take a good look at the places we passed by. 

At first, it served as entertainment for me, that's until I got bored. And I accidentally sparked a conversation, "the castle will take a while to be rebuilt, right?" 

"I'm afraid so, we'll have to grow back the plants with the protective spell," Blossom replies while she continues staring outside her window.

I tilt my head, not getting what she said, "what plants?"

"Those vines and flowers that crawled the castle walls, they're protective plants that only a being so powerful can grow them." 

"Who grew them?"

Blossom turns to face me, "Dazia grew them when she built the castle. It only gave up now because the creatures poisoned it."

"Oh," I look down at my hands while I fiddle with my fingers.

That's why the castle managed to survive that day of the explosion. Those plants aren't there for decoration; they wrap the castle walls as a form of protection.

Then a memory struck me. The memory of the night my mother died. Even if it was a blurry memory, I clearly remember the same plants that wrapped from my hand to my body when she pushed me away.

I gasp, coming to a realization. 

"Ms. Blossom, will beings here be able to use their abilities in the human realm?"

Blossom seems surprised by my question, "why do you ask?"

"I'm just wondering, if those gifted with magical abilities in the center realm would travel to the human realm, they'd be powerful since humans are ordinary beings." 

She chuckles," no, that's not true."

"Beings here will either turn fully human or an animal if they manage to go back to the human realm. It's the curse Beorene gave to the people after destroying the Kingsto portal."

She pauses to think, "but if one has something powerful enough to acquire magic from, it's possible. Maybe, like a necklace?"